Rose plant named ‘Evera173’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘Evera173’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaflets; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large double dark red-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Evera173’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a potted Rose, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Evera173’.

The new Rose is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fåborg, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new uniform potted Rose varieties with novel and attractive flower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 1, 2004 of a proprietary Rose selection identified as code number 04-0386, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed Rose selection, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Evera173 was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Apr. 10, 2004 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Fåborg, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose by cuttings at Fåborg, Denmark since Feb. 1, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Rose are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Evera173’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Evera173’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaflets.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large double dark red-colored flowers.     -   6. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         plant habit.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         flower color.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivar Evera 118, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,028. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fåborg, Denmark, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Evera 118 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose were not as vigorous as plants of the         cultivar Evera 118.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose had larger leaves than plants of the         cultivar Evera 118.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose had larger flowers with more petals         per flower than plants of the cultivar Evera 118.     -   4. Plants of the new Rose and the cultivar Evera 118 differed in         flower color as plants of the cultivar Evera 118 had red         purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Plants of the new Rose had shorter peduncles than plants of         the cultivar Evera 118.     -   6. Plants of the new Rose had fewer stamens and more pistils per         flower than plants of the cultivar Evera 118.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rose, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Rose.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Evera173’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Evera173’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rose has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in Fåborg, Denmark, in a glass-covered greenhouse and under commercial production practices. Plants were pinched one time and were about 12 to 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux. Four cuttings were grown in 10-cm containers. Plants used in the description represent a single plant. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida cultivar Evera173. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Rosa hybrida identified as code number 04-0386, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Rosa hybrida,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten to twelve days at 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at             24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, medium thickness; white             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Freely branching habit;             about two to three lateral branches develop from the pinch;             dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm to 22 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 18 cm to 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm to 20 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             144A. Thorns: Density: None to about four per linear cm.             Shape: Triangular with sharp acuminate apices. Height: About             3 mm to 7 mm. Diameter, at base: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Color,             immature: Close to 173D. Color, mature: Close to 180D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with three to five leaflets             per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 9 cm to 11 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 4 cm to 5.5 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 2 cm to 4 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 6.5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 1.4 cm to 3 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate to biserrate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             147A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B.             Fully developed, upper surface: Darker than 147A; venation,             close to 146A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 147B             tinted with close to 59A; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Leaf petiole length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Leaflet             petiole length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Leaf petiole diameter:             About 1 mm. Leaflet petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Leaf             petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous; rough.             Leaflet petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Leaf petiole color, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Leaf petiole color, lower surface: Close to 144A. Leaflet             petiole color, upper surface: Close to 146A tinted with             close to 59A. Leaflet petiole color, lower surface: Close to             144A.         -   Stipules.—Quantity: Two per leaf. Length: About 6 mm to             8 mm. Width: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Truncate; sessile. Margin: Irregularly             serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; leathery. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double dark red-colored flowers             with numerous petals. Consistently symmetrical rosette             flowers. Flowers borne in cymes on strong peduncles; one to             four flowers per cyme. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden             conditions; flowering intermittent. Plants begin flowering             about 78 days after planting.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm to 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant, typical of Rosa.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color:             Darker than 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Numerous; about 35 per flower arranged in             numerous whorls. Length: About 2.8 cm to 3 cm. Width: About             3 cm to 3.3 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded,             retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 53A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 59B. Fully opened, upper surface: Darker             than 53A; color becomes closer to 53A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Darker than 59B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About 2             cm to 2.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm to 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; leathery. Color: When opening and             fully expanded, upper surface: Close to 138B. When opening             and fully expanded, lower surface: Close to 144A to darker             than 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect.             Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm.             Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: About 30° to             45° from peduncle axis. Length: About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 85 per flower.             Anther length: About 2 mm to 2.5 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther color: Close to 163C. Filament color: Close to 162A.             Pollen amount: Not observed. Pistils: Quantity: About 70 per             flower. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma color: Close to             8B. Style length: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Style color: Close to             4D. Receptacle shape: Cup-shaped. Receptacle height: About             8 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 8 mm. Receptacle texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color: Close to 144A.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Roses. 

1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘Evera173’ as illustrated and described. 